Expanded-metal structure



March '17, i931.. w. A. BA1-Es EXPANDED METAL STRUCTURE med June 24,192s QLMMT# Patented Mar; 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER A.BATES, OF GARY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GARY STRUCTRAL STEEL COM- PANY, OFGARY, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE EXPANDED-METAL STRUCTURElApplication filed .Tune 24,

The present invention relates to expanded metal structures.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producingexpanded @l metal structures from commercial shapes.

A further object is to provide a method Well adapted for commercialoperation for treating commercial rolled shapes to produce commercialstructures which will have greater strength and will cost less thanfabricatedstructures of the same Weight.

A further object is to provide. a method of producing expanded metalstructures which method will give greater' assurance against hiddenflaws in the metal than is had in a fabricated 'structure of the sameapparent strength. p

Further objects Will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 shows in side elevation a commercialrolled shape, an I-beam being chosen for illustration, said commercialrolled shape being provided with transverse slits which illustrate aninitial operation in the treatment of said commercial shape according tothe present invention;

Figures 2 and 8 are views similar to `Figure 1 but showing the rolledshape after subsequent slitting `operations have been performed thereon;

Figure 4 is atop plan view of the structure shown in Figures 1 to 3, butafter a swedging operation has been performed thereon, and showing a diein position to perform its swedging operation;

Figure 5 is an end view of the structure shown in Figure l;

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of a structural steel member incompleted form, which structural steel member results from furthertreatment of the member as shown in Figures 4 and 5; and

Figure 7 is an end View of the structure shown in Figure 6.

As noted above, an I-beam has been chosen for illustrating the presentinvention, though as the description proceeds it will be apparent thatthe invention is not limited to I- beams, but is applicable to otherforms of 1926. Serial No. 118,206.

commercial or other-shapes. An I-beam of standard design is indicated bythenumeral 10, the web 11 of which I-beam is provided with transverselydisposedV slits12-12 extending part way across said websymmetri cally ofsaid web, which slits are arranged in pairs, said pairs being preferablyequispaced along a mid portion of the length of the I-beam. Arrangedsymmetrically with reference to the pairs of slits 12- 12 are other setsof transverse slits 13-13, said slits 13-13 being arranged in sets offour.V The outer extremities of the slits 12-12 are preferably disposedalong lines 14-14 arranged parallel with the axis of the I-beam 10. Theouter extremities of the slits 13-13 are disposed along parallel lines15-15, which are also substantially parallel with the axis of the I-beam10. The inner extremities of the slits 13,-13 are defined by the lines111-14. Those slits 13-13 disposed at the two extremities of the slittedportion of the I-beam 10 may be elongated to communicate with each otherto formthe elongated slits indicated by the numeral 16.

In addition to the transverseV slits 19,-12 and 13-13, the I-beam isprovided with the longitudinally extending slits 17, which slits 17 aredisposed along the axis of the I-beam, being ydisposed in position toconnect the mid point of one of the pairs of slits 12 to one of the netadjacent pair of slits 12. The outer extremities of slits 13-13 areconnected by longitudinally extending slits 18, said longitudinal slits18-18 being disposed in-'position connecting slits of one set of slits13 to slits of the next adjacent set of slits 13. The slits 18-18 aredisposed in overlapping relationship with the slits 17, therebyproviding ribbons or lacings which may be swedged from the plane of theweb 11 to provide an expanded metal structure.

n By reason of the arrangement of slits as above described, a pluralityof lacings 19 are provided, separatedby portions ,20-20, which will bereferred to herein as intacts, said intacts being defined by the slits12-12.

It will be noted that the outer slits 18,-18 are disposed in pairs,their intacts 20--20 being directly oppositeV each other( The kintactsbetween the slits 17-17 are disposed midway between the intacts of saidslits 18-18. The slits 13-13 are of substantially half the length of theslits 12--12- The I-beam l0, slitted as above described, is subjectedtoa swedging operation, a wedgshaped tool 21 beingprovided te, detorm.the lacings, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In ractice,.the.cuttingo theslitslS and the deiorming of thelhcings, are performed in the sameoperation, the tool 2l having a'width equal to the distance between.said. slits i8. The semi-completed structure 4shownin Figures 4 and 5 isthen subjected to-a pullingL or drawing operation, the two flanges ofthe beami being pulled directly away from each other;v or, iiipreferred, pushing force in. the direction of the arrowsin. Figures land 5 maybe applied to: spread the 'angesr; or a combination 'ofi saidpulli-ng andi pushing 1 forces-'maybe employedl, sozlong.E as aresulrtant component ot'materials valneis applied in the'original planeotthe web. 1l. rlhe act oi separating the t'woflanges of the I-beam lOlwilli naturally tend to. pull. the. deformed l'aeings 1=9-l9-bacl topositions symmetrical with the` web of the Ilbeam. In; order todo that',however, saidv lacingsmust turn. at right angles to saidweb; (.thatis,at right angles to their original plane), so that the final' ex.-

vpanded prod-'uctwill hawethefshape shown in planf and' in: crosssection inI Figures 6 and: 7, respectively, the centerjoint or intactbeing a U-shaped cross section on the intacts .2G-20. As: appears inEigure 6, the-lacings Yform intersecting' diagonale, providing adiamond-#shaped conformation. Y

' 'I-he` structure showni in Figureatahes the form ot' a beam, said`structure being illustrated as having the lower hal oi its: endp'ortionsswedged upwardly into, engagement with: the. upper halfthereot; this arrangeL ment bein-gl advantageous when. the structure isto. be used asa beam. ht' preferred; reenforcing members. 22,. sucln astubing,V mali/J.' be disposed between. and. preferably' weldedl tothe=upper andlower portions,othestnucture Though Figure 6 illustratesaheam,.it'will;be

olea-rl that-.the invention" is equally*v applicable tou columns,Vdiagonals: and other structural members.

By reasonloffthe'present inventionla. method is*L provided whereby.rexpanded metal strucv'turesmay beunanufactnred from commercial rolledlshapes4 which. expandedrmetal. structures willi have decided;adlvantagesin ai. coinmercial sense.

Though one embodiment. ofrthepresent; invention. has: beenV chosen forpurposes ot il.- lustration, it willi beunderstood that many1modificationsmay befma'delwithout departing fromthescopefofftheinvention.. Itis intended to. coi/.ery all: such modifications that fallwithinthescopeofthe appen dednlaims.

What isz-claimed.l

l. The method of treating a rolled'shape having a web which consists ofproviding said web with openings having substantial dimensionstransversely of said web, connecting certain of said transverse openingswith longitudinal openings to provide lacings attached at both ends tosaid web, swedging certain of said lacings from the plane of said web bystretching same and applying-a force to said rolled sha-pe'ha-i-'ing acomponent at right angles to the axis of said rolled shape in a planesubstantially coincident with the plane of said web whereby to expandsaidA rolled shape.

2. The method of treating a rolled shape havin-g a web; portion. whichconsists in providing said web portion with a; pluralityV of pairs ottransversev openings extending only part way across said: web andiprovidingsaid web.- witlr other sets of: openings disposed transverselyof said web, the openings in said sets beingv disposed: outwardly of thelines marking the extremities., oi the: first mentionedY openings,slittingV said, web. longitudinally to connect together the outer eX-tremities. of certain of said last mentioned openings, slitting saidweb. longitudinally to connect together certan. otsaidg iirst mentionedopenings to providelacings. attached at bothV ends to said; web,swedging said parallel; slits,. p1oviding a. plurality oftransverseopenings communicating withy the. extremities. of said longitudinalslitsto form lacings attached at both ends. to5 said. web, swedging' certain:of said lacings laterally of said. webby stretching same and applying a;force-tolsaid webin the original plane of said web to; return portionsof. said swedged lacings to the original plane off said web and to turnthe remaining portions of said swedged lacings into planes at rightangles to the original plane otfsaid. web.

4'. The method ofltreating a member having a fla-t wall: whichconsistsot cutting'A said fiat wall to provide a plurality, of sets. ofapertures spaced along said membeigconnecting certain of. said apertureswitlrlongitudinal slits, stretching portionszof said.l wall along saidslits from the planeof said wall t'o\ provide lacings. attached at both.ends. to saidwall and applying adistorting force to saidmember intheplane. of. said; walll substantially atv right angles to. said' slitsto. turn said stretched portions through an angle of ninety degrees topositions in which the material thereof is at substantial right anglesto the original plane of said wall.

5. The method of treating a member having a flat wall which consists ofcutting said flat wall to provide a plurality of sets of aperturesspaced along said wall, connecting certain of said apertures withlongitudinal slits stretching portions of said wall in a directiontransverse to said wall to form angular strips attached at both ends tosaid wall and applying a distorting force to said Wall in the plane ofsaid wall substantially at right angles to s aid slits to swing saidstrips from positions laterally of said wall to positions perpendicularto but symmetrical with the plane of said wall.

6. The method of treating a member having a flat wall which consists ofcutting said lat wall to provide a plurality of spaced slits disposedlongitudinally of said member, stretching portions of said wall alongsaid slits from the plane of said wall to provide lacings attached atboth ends to said wall and applying a distorting force to said member inthe plane of said wall substantially at right angles to said slits toturn said stretched portions through an angle of ninety degrees topositions in which the material thereof is at substantially right anglesto the original plane of said wall.

7 The method of treating a member having a flat wall which consists ofcutting said flat wall to provide a plurality of spaced longitudinallyextending slits, stretching portions of said wall along said slits fromthe plane of said wall in 'a direction transverse to said wall to formangular strips attached at both ends to said wall, and applying adistorting force to said shape in the plane of said wall substantiallyat right angles to said slits to swing said strips from positionslaterally of said wall to positions perpendicular to but symmetricalwith the plane of said wall.

8. The method of treating a member having a flat wall whichconsists incutting said flat wall to provide a plurality of sets of aperturesspaced along said member, severing and stretching portions of said wallbetween said sets of apertures to provide lacings attached at theiropposite ends to said wall, and applying a distorting force to saidmember in the plane of said member substantially at right angles to saidlacings to turn said stretched portions through an angle of ninetydegrees to positions in which the material thereof is at substantiallyright angles to the original plane of said wall.

9. The method of treating a member having a flat wall which consists ofcutting said flat wall to provide a plurality of sets of aperturesspaced along said wall, severing and stretching portions ofsaid wallbetween said apertures to provide lacings attached at of June, 1926.

WALTER A. BATES.

